The Philippines has expressed its commitment to extend its hands to victims of humanitarian crises, including beefing up its support for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as the government noted the importance of people-centered and cohesive humanitarian actions.
During the 73rd Session of the Executive Committee of the UNCHR, the Philippines, through the Department of Justice (DOJ), called for solidarity in responding to humanitarian crises as well as building a humanitarian ecosystem that has strong synergies at the global, regional, and national levels, with support from all stakeholders.
For Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, initiatives to be taken should be geared towards ensuring a better future for the displaced and the most vulnerable, including women and children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and indigenous peoples.
"The global humanitarian agenda is, and must be, about people, their well-being, health, livelihood, and basic human dignity," he said.
The Philippines also vowed to remain an ally and a donor to the UNHCR and other humanitarian funds, as it is part of the country's responsibility as a member of the community of nations.
Remulla also stressed the need to widen the base of support beyond traditional donors and traditional hosting countries by urging the "middle countries" to become proactive humanitarian champions and agents of change.
The justice secretary even reiterated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s recent call for an international system to work together for the most vulnerable, especially the marginalized and those migrants and refugees, as the Philippines can also relate, being a nation of migrants.
He even took pride in the country's ratification of the 1961 Statelessness Convention, the passing of the Foundling Act, the establishment of an inter-agency body for protection services, and the pilot of the Complimentary Pathways for Rohingyas.